Louisiana voters want answers about the state’s coastal restoration plans, according to a new statewide poll discussed Monday during Coastal Day at the Capitol. Lauren Bourg with Restore the Mississippi River Delta said the results show strong public support for large-scale coastal projects and more transparency on how the state will use remaining Deepwater Horizon settlement funds.
Voters want more transparency
One of the biggest takeaways from the poll is simple: people want the state to explain what comes next. Bourg said 98% of voters believe Louisiana should clearly explain how it plans to spend the remaining oil spill settlement money. That concern grew after the state canceled two major sediment diversion projects that had already gone through years of design, permitting and planning.
She said those dollars cannot simply be moved anywhere. The funds must go to areas hit hardest by oil damage and land loss, especially in the Barataria Basin. Bourg argued that makes the decision even more important because Louisiana will not get another one-time funding opportunity like this again.
Why large coastal projects matter
Bourg also pushed back on the idea that smaller projects can solve Louisiana’s land loss crisis. She said the state needs large-scale work because the problem itself is massive. Sediment diversions reconnect the Mississippi River to wetlands, which helps rebuild land naturally.
The poll also found 76% of voters oppose canceling the sediment diversion project. Bourg said voters prefer sticking with Louisiana’s science-based Coastal Master Plan instead of shifting to short-term alternatives. She argued that restoring the coast is about more than the environment. It also affects storm protection, seafood, jobs, culture, insurance rates and whether families can afford to stay in Louisiana.
Louisiana’s coast supports the entire state. That is why this debate reaches far beyond the shoreline.